Over 21,000 NGOs were served a notice by the Home Ministry for not submitting annual returns under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said notices were served to the 21,493 associations for not submitting annual returns for the period of 2006-09 and all of them were asked to reply along with postal proof or any other proof of address.

Rijiju said in case of 4,138 NGOs, letters dispatched from the Home Ministry were returned undelivered by the post office as addresses were not found and after due consideration their registrations were cancelled.

There are 42,529 NGOs registered under the FCRA as on July 16, 2014. However, there is no specific data available with respect to NGOs not registered under the FCRA, he said.